ICE Disobeys Judge's Orders, Transfers Minnesota Man and 2-Year-Old to Texas Detention Center: Report

ICE transferred Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria and his 2-year-old daughter to a Texas detention center, despite a court order to return them to Minnesota. The family, from Ecuador, was detained in Minneapolis on January 22, 2026, while their asylum claims are ongoing. This move has raised legal and humanitarian concerns.

Key Details:

• Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria and his 2-year-old daughter, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, were detained by ICE in Minneapolis on January 22, 2026.
• Despite a court ruling ordering their return to Minnesota, the father and daughter were transferred to a Texas detention center hours later.
• The family is from Ecuador, and their case involves active asylum claims.

Incident Overview

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, around 1:00 p.m., Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria and his young daughter Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in South Minneapolis. The two had been returning home from a grocery store when ICE agents stopped their vehicle. Both individuals are originally from Ecuador. According to Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez, a vehicle was seen tailing Tipan-Echeverria's car, which allegedly broke his window and took both father and daughter into custody. Chavez added that no judicial warrant was presented during the detainment.

After their detention, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Tipan-Echeverria and his daughter were taken into custody. However, DHS officials did not release the child's identity. DHS explained that Tipan-Echeverria was suspected of felony reentry into the United States after a prior deportation. The department also stated that Tipan-Echeverria had been driving erratically and had not complied with several lawful commands from ICE agents.

Family's Legal Position

The family's attorney, Kira Kelley, asserted that both Tipan-Echeverria and his daughter had active asylum claims and did not have any final removal orders. Kelley claimed that no warrant had been presented at the time of the family's detention. At 5:37 p.m. on January 22, Kelley filed an emergency petition, seeking the immediate release of both individuals and requesting that the child not be transferred outside of Minnesota. The family’s legal team also raised concerns about the child's welfare, claiming that ICE agents initially refused to allow Tipan-Echeverria to bring his daughter to her mother. Kelley described the agents' actions as unusual and troubling, pointing out that the family was hesitant to cooperate due to their fear of the agents' conduct.

Judicial Intervention and ICE's Response

In response to the emergency petition, U.S. District Judge Kathy Menendez issued a ruling at 8:10 p.m. on January 22, directing ICE to refrain from removing Tipan-Echeverria and his daughter from Minnesota. The judge also ordered that the child be returned to her mother by no later than 9:30 p.m. that same evening. However, despite the court's directive, ICE informed the court at 8:30 p.m. that Tipan-Echeverria and his daughter were already en route to Texas, having been placed on a commercial flight. ICE assured the court that the child would be returned to Minnesota the following day, January 23.

Irina Vaynerman, another attorney representing the family, criticized ICE’s actions, stating that transferring the toddler to Texas was an effort to circumvent the court’s jurisdiction. Vaynerman described the transfer as unprecedented, especially considering the involvement of a 2-year-old child.

Family Reunification

By Friday evening, January 23, it was confirmed that Tipan-Echeverria remained in an ICE detention facility. However, no information was available regarding his daughter in the ICE Detainee Locator System, as she is under 18. Reports later indicated that Chloe was reunited with her mother later that same day, though the specific details of the reunion have not been publicly disclosed.

Similar Cases and ICE's Family Separation Policy

This incident follows another similar event on January 20, 2026, in which ICE agents detained 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, after the pair returned home from preschool. These events have raised significant questions about the Department of Homeland Security's approach to family separations, with the department continuing to deny having a formal policy of separating families. The legal team representing Tipan-Echeverria has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover unexpected legal fees and financial burdens resulting from the detainment. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to additional requests for comment, and the situation remains under public scrutiny.

Sources:

• ICE flew 2-year-old to Texas despite court order to release her from custody - KSTP.com
• Agents detain and send 2-year-old girl and her father to Texas despite court order to release toddler - Star Tribune
• ICE Sends Minnesota Man and His Toddler, 2, to Texas Detention Center Against Judge's Orders: Report - People
• ICE Sends Minnesota Man and His Toddler, 2, to Texas Detention Center Against Judge's Orders: Report